themusicgrapevine.com Review of Within Memory

 During my tenure as a music reviewer, I have received many CD's of solo piano music. As you might expect, the quality of these submissions has varied greatly. Some have been inspired, others less so. It is a rare musician who can produce piano music that is consistently interesting and engaging. As a piano player myself, I can appreciate the difficulty involved.

That is what makes Within Memory by Craig Urquhart worthy of discussion. Within Memory is not his first CD, it is his eighth (seven solo piano, one with tenor Michael Slattery). Yet, there is no evidence that Mr Urquhart is struggling to find new musical territory to explore. No hint that his well of musical inspiration is running dry.

While it is clear the same mind is at work in each piece, each song is unique and colorful. Each piece stakes out its own territory and stands on its own. Each piece makes a place for itself in the listener's consciousness and settles in for the duration.

Most piano music can easily be relegated to the background to accompany whatever you happen to be doing in the foreground. This is music that can command your full attention. Each piece on Withing Memory is melodically interesting and harmonically rich. While the pieces are structurally sound, they do not fall into the trap of being predictable. They take you on a journey where the destination is unknown until you arrive, and only then does the destination seem obvious.

I may play piano myself, and I certainly have a great love for the instrument. But that said, I don't have much patience for those who do not play it well. That makes it all the more wonderful when I find someone who plays with skill and sensitivity and who can write for the instrument with such understanding.

Craig's website can be found at http://www.craigurquhart.com/. If you would like to listen to some samples of the music on this CD and perhaps purchase it, click on the CD Baby link below.